thedrifter
04-06-07, 08:16 AM
Effort for troops a big hit
CHRISSY VICK
daily news staff
Isabell Patton wants the troops in Iraq to have a little bit of fun.
Her reasons are sound.
"It's hard over there for them, and sending them some cookies makes every day brighter," said Patton, 13, of Onslow County Girl Scout Troop 930. "It makes me feel really good to be a part of that."
Patton and her friends hope to make things a little sweeter for military forces in the coming weeks. Through the Cookies for the Troops campaign, started this year in Onslow County and sponsored by Beasley Broadcast Group, Girl Scouts from across North Carolina raised 19,740 boxes of cookies to send to Iraq.
Each box was bought and donated by someone in the community and has a personalized note from Girl Scouts, along with businesses and churches that participated.
"We were thinking of ways to provide comfort to the troops," said Jim Koniour, promotions manager for Beasley Broadcasting Group Eastern North Carolina. "Who doesn't know about Girl Scout cookies and love them? After a long day, they can sit down and have something from home."
The boxes were delivered Thursday to Sanders Ford in Jacksonville before being shipped off to the USO. Sanders Ford supported the program with advertising and allowed Girl Scouts to sell cookies at the business.
The USO will send the cookies to deployed troops in care packages and also be put in "rack packs" - packages for single Marines returning from the war.
"Sometimes the Marines need the basics when they get here," said USO director Sarah Beth Burchell. "We provide them with toiletries and snacks, so the cookies will be perfect for that."
Koniour said he had no idea the campaign would do so well. The group set their goal at 1,000 boxes, thinking even that would be difficult.
"We underestimated the generosity of the community," Koniour said. "It's been great."
Cookies for the Troops is a part of Operation Keeping You Close, started by Beasley's eastern North Carolina stations in January to show support for the troops and their families. Videos, photos and messages from the community and loved ones are displayed on the stations' Web sites as a way to keep them connected with deployed troops.
The program also selects a military family of the month and sends them to dinner at a local restaurant.
"We wanted to take it one step further and it just happened to coincide with the cookie sales," Koniour said. "Besides, as a retired Marine I know how important it is to have that support."
The Girl Scouts were eager to team up. It allowed them to do a service project and still raise money they need for Girl Scout activities. They've been involved in donating cookies to troops in the past, but on a much smaller scale.
"It was a way to take a money-earning project and help the girls think beyond themselves," said Deborah Brady, communication manager for the Girl Scout Council of Coastal Carolina. "To us it may be another box of cookies, but to the troops it's a little piece of home."
For more information on Operation Keeping You Close, visit any the Beasley Broadcasting Web site at www.bbgi.com.
Contact staff writer Chrissy Vick at cvick@freedomenc.com or by calling 353-1171, ext. 239.
CHRISSY VICK
daily news staff
Isabell Patton wants the troops in Iraq to have a little bit of fun.
Her reasons are sound.
"It's hard over there for them, and sending them some cookies makes every day brighter," said Patton, 13, of Onslow County Girl Scout Troop 930. "It makes me feel really good to be a part of that."
Patton and her friends hope to make things a little sweeter for military forces in the coming weeks. Through the Cookies for the Troops campaign, started this year in Onslow County and sponsored by Beasley Broadcast Group, Girl Scouts from across North Carolina raised 19,740 boxes of cookies to send to Iraq.
Each box was bought and donated by someone in the community and has a personalized note from Girl Scouts, along with businesses and churches that participated.
"We were thinking of ways to provide comfort to the troops," said Jim Koniour, promotions manager for Beasley Broadcasting Group Eastern North Carolina. "Who doesn't know about Girl Scout cookies and love them? After a long day, they can sit down and have something from home."
The boxes were delivered Thursday to Sanders Ford in Jacksonville before being shipped off to the USO. Sanders Ford supported the program with advertising and allowed Girl Scouts to sell cookies at the business.
The USO will send the cookies to deployed troops in care packages and also be put in "rack packs" - packages for single Marines returning from the war.
"Sometimes the Marines need the basics when they get here," said USO director Sarah Beth Burchell. "We provide them with toiletries and snacks, so the cookies will be perfect for that."
Koniour said he had no idea the campaign would do so well. The group set their goal at 1,000 boxes, thinking even that would be difficult.
"We underestimated the generosity of the community," Koniour said. "It's been great."
Cookies for the Troops is a part of Operation Keeping You Close, started by Beasley's eastern North Carolina stations in January to show support for the troops and their families. Videos, photos and messages from the community and loved ones are displayed on the stations' Web sites as a way to keep them connected with deployed troops.
The program also selects a military family of the month and sends them to dinner at a local restaurant.
"We wanted to take it one step further and it just happened to coincide with the cookie sales," Koniour said. "Besides, as a retired Marine I know how important it is to have that support."
The Girl Scouts were eager to team up. It allowed them to do a service project and still raise money they need for Girl Scout activities. They've been involved in donating cookies to troops in the past, but on a much smaller scale.
"It was a way to take a money-earning project and help the girls think beyond themselves," said Deborah Brady, communication manager for the Girl Scout Council of Coastal Carolina. "To us it may be another box of cookies, but to the troops it's a little piece of home."
For more information on Operation Keeping You Close, visit any the Beasley Broadcasting Web site at www.bbgi.com.
Contact staff writer Chrissy Vick at cvick@freedomenc.com or by calling 353-1171, ext. 239.